tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70051145911731026342020-06-06T07:47:59.667-04:00The Nerdy TeacherTeacher.Leader.Learner.NerdThe Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.comBlogger982125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-65822884836958028892020-05-29T09:00:00.006-04:002020-05-29T09:00:02.283-04:00Supporting Educators This Fall #EdChat The end of the school year is upon us and, while it might not be fun, we need to have a serious talk about school in the Fall. Based on conversations with teachers across the country, many schools/districts were not prepared for remote learning. No plan was in place and it took weeks, or even a month in some cases, to have a plan. The most troubling thing about this was that teachers were thrown The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-42072271244289576042020-05-06T10:41:00.000-04:002020-05-06T10:41:14.939-04:00How Often Are You Checking On The SEL Of Your Students? #EdChat
As the epidemic continues and teachers and students are still engaging in remote learning, how often does SEL come up?
Right now, I have seen too many articles about the knowledge slide that students are going to experience this year. When it comes to content and curriculum, students are going to be fine! Teachers will adjust the curriculum and students will be able to continue to learn. These The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-87178183276990921162020-04-15T15:00:00.000-04:002020-04-15T15:00:31.439-04:00It's OK That You Don't Feel OK #EdChat
Right now, there are many teachers out there that are not feeling OK with the way things are right now and I want you to know that I am with you and it is OK to not feel OK right now.
Teachers do not want to be at home looking at their students through a computer all day. We want to interact. We want them to socialize. We want to see their smiles in person and laugh when the class needs a good The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-12198413951906049562020-04-15T11:58:00.000-04:002020-04-15T11:58:04.114-04:00Sorry @zbyronwolf, @PlayCraftLean is an Educational Tool #MakerEd
I was reading an article on CNN today that was about schools and their role in "opening the economy" today. There was a part of the piece, that is overall well written, that annoyed me.
Zachary B. Wolf wrote,
"Education Week has maintained an interactive map of school closures since the beginning of this thing, and that map suggests that nearly every American school kid is not currently in The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-49931010296625507782020-03-30T20:56:00.000-04:002020-03-30T20:56:31.396-04:00Day One Remote Learning Expectations #EdChat #covidEDU
Tomorrow University Liggett School will start our Remote Learning Adventure. I spent my Spring Break with our Admin team to create a system that will allow teachers and students to connect in synchronous and asynchronous ways. It was a very busy couple of weeks, but I feel we have a solid system to connect students and teachers using Zoom, GAFE, and SeeSaw. We are an Independent School that is The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-83994138324371626042020-03-16T11:02:00.001-04:002020-03-16T11:05:51.397-04:00Interactive Fiction Webinar - Python Coding in ELA #EngChat
Thanks to everyone that made it to the webinar yesterday. I was able to take the recording and add it to YouTube. You can watch it below. Feel free to share it with your students and with others around the internet. Here are the links to the resources used.
Trinket.io
Raspberry Pi Tutorial
My game with advanced elements
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and we The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-42497716496957906392020-03-14T08:31:00.001-04:002020-03-14T08:31:53.979-04:00Why and How You Should Implement #PBL in your Virtual Classroom
I have written many posts on Project Based Learning and have recently written a book about using it in the classroom. None of them cover the value of a PBL during a nationwide shutdown of schools to prevent the spread of disease. With all of the talk about distance learning and how are teachers going to manage classrooms and instruction for the next 3-4 weeks, people are too focused on trying toThe Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-86320592022385760102020-03-10T08:57:00.001-04:002020-03-10T08:57:33.725-04:00Share Your Creativity With Students #MakerEd #WhatImMaking
One of the things I have seen shared on the Internets and in schools I have visited are signs by classroom that share what a teacher is reading to show students that everyone reads. I have always thought that was nice and I would share what I was reading in my classroom on the board. As I have shifted to my role as a Makerspace Director, reading has not become less important, but I wanted to The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-46426979947571871062020-03-03T19:54:00.000-05:002020-03-03T19:54:07.311-05:00Using @AdobeAero and @AdobeSpark to Create a Project Showcase #CreateEdu
I’ve been playing with a variety of Adobe apps the more I have been working in the makerspace. As more and more students use the space, the more variety in projects we are starting to see. One of the projects I have started using in my Innovation and Design class is a Design Thinking exercise.
Students need to create a shoe for a partner using limited supplies; 4 sheets of newspaper, 1 foot of The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-90014224684119296902020-02-24T15:41:00.000-05:002020-02-24T15:41:25.394-05:00Don't Waste Money on a Makerspace... #MakerEd
...if you are not going to support your staff with professional development.
One of the things I encounter on the internet and in my travels are schools that have spent lots of money on makerspaces, but have not provided a framework of support for teachers on how to get the most out of them. I have seen the same thing done with interactive whiteboards, chromebooks, and other pieces of The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-78408089804044624112020-02-17T14:16:00.002-05:002020-02-17T14:16:40.744-05:00Let Your Students Be Storytellers #MakerEd #EdChat
Anybody that knows me, knows that I love to tell a story. I also love hearing a good story. There is something so beautiful about the exchange of stories between groups of people. People think that stories are only verbally shared between people and that is not true. Look around you right now and you might not notice it, but you are surrounded by stories. Everything ever made has a story. It is The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-45747241126676226412020-02-04T09:47:00.001-05:002020-02-04T09:47:51.944-05:00Please Adjust Your Mask Before Helping Others #EdChat
I am on my way to #TCEA and I was listening to the pre-flight instructions when the safety video came on. They showed how to put on the O2 masks and a line that I have heard many, many times, stuck a chord with me.
"Please make sure to adjust your mask before helping others."
For whatever reason, this really stood out to me. I have been writing about MakerEd and Mental Health the past few The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-62520042749345894872020-01-27T13:00:00.000-05:002020-01-27T13:00:08.350-05:00Mental Health and Making #MakerEd #EdChat
I have been thinking about the benefits of being a maker in connection to my own mental health the past couple of months. I have been very open about my depression and anxiety and am always looking for ways to help reduce both of those aspects in my life. I have found a calming attribute to making. When I'm in the "making zone", everything else in my life vanishes. No anxiety, no The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-18130980166864276422020-01-24T07:36:00.000-05:002020-01-24T07:36:11.180-05:00The Joy and Fear of Not Knowing Who You Are #EdChat
Teaching in middle school the past couple of years after over a decade in high school has opened up my eyes to the things that I have actively worked to repress from my own years in middle school. Middle school students spend so much time trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in. They look at adults and think it is so easy because we know our place in the world. If they only knew The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-17023859347983669682020-01-20T10:00:00.000-05:002020-01-20T10:00:09.305-05:00Contest! Win my books! #EdChat
Good morning! I thought I would do a contest for my new book, Beyond the Poster Board, that would give away my best selling books, Your Starter Guide to Makerspaces and The Maker Mentality.
The contest is simple,
1. Go to Amazon and purchase my new book, Beyond the Poster Board.
2. Read the book.
3. Write an honest review of the book on Amazon.
4. Screenshot your review when it goes live.The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-90778729716246936442020-01-19T10:53:00.001-05:002020-01-19T10:53:25.388-05:00Supporting ALL of You Students #PBLchat
In my early years of teaching, I struggled to find the lesson that would engage the entire class. I envisioned this scenario where I created the ultimate lesson and every students was engaged in what I created. I have often referred to this magical lesson as my "white whale". It wasn't until I had many years under my belt that I realized that the type of lesson I was searching for did not exist The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-22319844973698743882020-01-11T16:08:00.000-05:002020-01-11T16:08:35.098-05:00Beyond the Poster Board - New Book Available Today #PBL #ELA
I am so excited to announce that my newest book is available on Amazon right now!
Beyond the Poster Board: Project Based Learning in the English Language Arts Classroom is a book is all about the different ways that an ELA teacher can integrate Project Based Learning into their classroom. Having students glue or draw things on a blank poster board is not real Project Based Learning. That'sThe Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-85205719722399389852020-01-02T17:59:00.002-05:002020-01-02T17:59:46.187-05:00Happy Anniversary to @TheNerdyTeacher #EdChat
Here is the tweet that started it all for me,
The account was created to share my blog I had started on the same day and my second tweet was,
No need to follow the link, here it is,
"Let's see where this thing takes us." Never in my wildest dreams would I think that I would get to work with amazing people from all over the world. I have travelled to Singapore, Iceland, and The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-884211297402637322019-12-14T13:35:00.000-05:002019-12-14T13:35:04.384-05:00Woodshop 2.0 #MakerEd #PBL
One of the things that has been an interesting part of my evolution as an Makerspace Director is the popularity of the trade skills among students. It should not be surprising though. So many of us grew up with access to a woodshop class, metals class, auto tech class, or something similar. As school shifted toward testing and state requirements and the idea that college graduation was the onlyThe Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-45874512890755572032019-12-08T11:52:00.000-05:002019-12-08T11:52:00.226-05:00Project Based Learning on @Reddit #EdChat
I hope everyone is having an awesome day!
I have been spending lots of time on Reddit recently getting tips on Woodworking and Turning as well as sharing my work on there as well. I got to thinking that it there should be a place for teachers to share and I was shocked to find that a Project Based Learning thread did not exist. So, I created it. You can find it here.
If you are interested The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-41866378710322333572019-12-03T20:44:00.000-05:002019-12-03T20:51:42.535-05:00Making for Mental Health #MakerEd
tl;dr - Making and the general act of creation/creativity helps support students' mental health.
It has been a number of weeks since my last blog post and it is simply because I have been too busy with students and personal projects to sit and write a full post. I'm posting plenty on Instagram and you should check out the student work there.
During this posting absence, so many different The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-13867146784648221412019-10-30T14:00:00.000-04:002019-10-30T14:00:00.969-04:00A Growth Mindset in #MakerEd
There are lots of people that talk about the Growth Mindset as way to approach learning with students. However, just saying that and then not providing any means for students to see what that means is a waste of time for everyone. One of the things that has been important to me in crafting a class to help students understand the design process and how to improve critical thinking and problem The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-89598167190754146612019-10-24T13:00:00.000-04:002019-10-24T13:00:09.081-04:00More @IAmKidPresident from @SoulPancake! #EdChat
I'm excited to share some more Kid President with all of you! There are two more videos that you have to watch that explore our connections with people all around us. Please take some time to see how you might be able to share these with students in your class to have important conversations about empathy, refugees, and so much more.
Next stop: the beach! Robby and Brad find themselves The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-90147935492486052962019-10-24T09:10:00.000-04:002019-10-24T09:10:01.637-04:00The Pressure of Failing #PBLChat #EdChat
One of the things I have learned over the years with project based learning is that some students are willing to take a risk and try something new to demonstrate their understanding of a topic and others will play it safe and stick to tools and resources they are comfortable using. There were many factors that contribute to playing it safe or taking a risk, but in school, being graded has a The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7005114591173102634.post-44087630999542433022019-10-09T07:11:00.000-04:002019-10-09T07:11:06.490-04:00@iamkidpresident visits Selma in new episode of Are We There Yet
I'm excited to see another episode live on YouTube from my buddy Brad and Kid President. In this episode they are visiting Selma, AL to see some kids doing awesome things in their community and to chat with Joanne Bland. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement and was arrested 3 times by the age of 11 when she marched to Montgomery with Dr. King.
I think this video is important to show The Nerdy Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967718792957188554noreply@blogger.com0